Track lubricator



Sept. 17, 1929. A. G. HUMPHRlEs Er AL 1,723,412

l TRACK LUBRICATOR Y 2 Sheets-Shea*l l Filed July 16, 1927 l l l F15/.1.. 5

INVENTORS.

Sept 17 1929- A. G. HUMPHRIES Er AL v 1,728,412

TRACK LUBRI CATOR Filed July 16, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 17, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALBERT G. HUMPHRIES, on PITTSBURG, AND ALLAN E. BONNALTE, 4on SAN FRAN- cisco, CALIFORNIAv TRACK LUBRICATOR Application filed July 16,' 1927. Serial No. 206,296.A

Our invention relates to the art of railway-track lubrication. Its object is to apply' a lubricant to the flange or gauge side of rall head to reduce friction and Wear, especlally on curved track.

It consists, briefly stated, in a structure.

comprising a lubricant reservoir; -means operable by the Wheels of the rolling stock for feeding the lubricant from the reservoir;

and a nozzle member. for directing the` changes may be made therein, Without de' parting from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawingsw Fig. 1 is a cross-section of our Ytracklubricator, showing it applied to the rail.

Fig. 2 is a top plan of the same, the trackrail being omitted.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same taken from the nozzle side, the rail being omitted.

Fig. 4 is'a cross section of a modified form of the device, showing it applied to a girder rail.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 8, 1 is a 'chambered body-member inclosing a reservoir 2, of suitable capacity, for containing a lubricant, access to said reservoir being provided by a hinged lid 3.

One sido of the body member is fashioned, as at 4, with a contour conforming to Aand adapted to seat Within the space on one side of the rail 5, bounded by the rail head 6, web 7 and base 8, as seen in Fig. 1 -and said side 4 is fitted lwith a bolt 9 which passes through the rail Web 7 and receives a nut 10'upon its end.

11 is a nozzle-member, shaped on its inner face to conform to the surfaces of the rail head, Web and base against which it is seated by a bushing 12 encircling the bolty 9 and set 'up by the nut 10, with intervening spring Washers 10a. Thus'the device isfitted to the rail by simple and eective means, thgough it will be understood that other forms of connection .may be used. I

Within the reservoir chamber 2 of the body member 1 is formed a guide member 13 in which the head 14 of the plunger 15 is fitted for reciprocation. The head 14 is offset at 14"l forming a shoulder which lies under the rail head 6, and said head is grooved down from said shoulder at 14b to receive a stop pin 16 seated in the side 4 of the bod member. The shoulder 14,a and the pin 16 'orm stops to define the u 'Ward limit of the plunger stroke, which llmit is one which, as shown, present-s the plunger head -14 which projects through the top of the body member 1, in a plane slightly above the tread surface of the rail 5 and directly in the path of the overlapping outer portion of the tread 17 of the Wheel 18 of the rolling stock, said Wheel having the flange 19 on the opposite or gauge side of the rail head.

A spring 20 Within the guide member 13 normally holds the plunger in elevated position and returns it thereto after relief from the pressure yof the passing Wheel. The plunger 15 asses through the bottom of the guide mem er 13, and is aligned With an open depression constituting a vcharging pot 21 formed in the bottom of the body meniber 1, thev stroke of the plunger being such as to cause its lower end to enter into and to Withdraw from said pot With a close sliding fit.

Suitable ducts lead from the charging pot A' 21 to the nozzle member 11. For example, as shown in Fig. l, there is a duct 22 from lthe bottom of the pot21; a second duct 23l at the end of the bolt 9 leading upward to the level of the axis of said bolt; another .duct 9a in the axis of the bolt; radial ducts .24 and 24al inthe bolt and the bushing 12,

respectively, leading to a peripheral channel 25 in said bushing; and a delivery duct 11aL in the nozzle member 11 with which said channel 25 communicates. A check valve 235L may be placed, if desired, at. any suitable point or points in the duct system. The delivery duct 11a opens out at a point which enables it to eject the lubricant upon the surfaces desired. Itmay deliver primarily upon the side of the rail head 6 or upon the inner face of the wheel fiange 19, or upon both said surfaces.

We prefer to deliver the lubricant to sur# v13 is made a by-pass 13, which leads from the duct 23 back into the reservoir 2, crossing the path o f the plunger 15. A port 15a in said plunger controls this by-pass, keeping it closed when out of register therewith` and opening it when in alignment, so that a predetermined charge of lubricant will be forced. from the charging pot 21 regardless of any variation in the stroke of the plunger.

In order to protect the plunger head 14 from possible damage a guard plate 27 is provided. This plate is carried by springs 28 to which its ends are secured, the springs being bolted to lugs 29, on the ends of the body member 1, Fig. 3. The guard plate 27 extends over the body member in line with and about at the same level as the plunger head 14, said head being exposed and playing through a hole 27a in said plate, The guard plate 27 receives the first pressure of the wheel .tread as it rides up thereon and yielding thereunder, the wheel passes down the plunger without side impact shock.

This guard is particularly useful in making the track safe for the operation of track i motor cars. In order to insure the position of the guard plate 27, it is provided-near each end with downwardly projecting studs 27h having foot anges 27c which bear up against stops 27d adjustably fitted in lugs 29a on the ends of the body member. The guard plate is thus prevented from displacement sind may be adjusted to proper position. See

In operation the structure is securely and snugly fastened to the rail by bolting it through the rail web. Suitable lubricant is supplied to the reservoir 2, some of it lling the charging pot 21, from which the plunger 15 in its normal position is elevated, as seen in Fig. l. The wheel 18 of the rolling stock rides up on the guard plate 27 and its tread 17 runs down the plunger head 14. The plunger is thus depressed into the pot 21 and the lubricant therein is forced out in a predetermined charge, controlled by the by-pass 13, through the several ducts and delivered by the nozzle 11 upon the surface orl surfaces desired, and is spread aloncr the iiange or gauge side of the rail head by the wheel flange 19.

The operation is, of course, repeated by the passing of successive wheels, so that the lubrication is very eifective.

As the wheel passes from the plunger head 14 the plunger 15 rises from the pot 21 and a fresh charge of lubricant enters said pot.

In Fig. 4 we show a modification of the device for. lubricating the gauge side of a girder rail 30 where interference with motor cars, is not to be. feared. In this form, the

'chambered body member 31 Vis bolted to the rail web as heretofore described. 'Said member is provided with the charging pot 32 as in the previous form of the device, and a plunger 33 operates in said pot. The plunger has a head 34 guided in a member 35, and is controlled by a spring 36, its upper limit being defined by a-stop 7.

The head 34 of the plunger plays through an opening in the rail 30 and normally lies high enough to be run down by the iange 38 of the wheel 39.

The essential modification herein lies in the fact that the plunger is provided with a through duct 40 which receives at its lower end the lubricant' from the pot 32 and delivers it through'its head`34 upon the surface or surfaces to be lubricated. l

Though the pressure of the passing wheel may be communicated to the plunger head indirectly throughthe guard plate 27, we

prefer the direct pressure here shown, for the sake of a quick operation, rather than a adual one, thus insuring a positive and su den jet of the lubricant with no tendency to back suction of the more or less viscid grease.

We claim 1. A' track-rail lubricator comprising a chambered body-member for a lubricant supply; said member having within it an open charge-pot; a plunger operable by a passing wheel and adapted to-enter and to withdraw fromsaid charge-pot for forcing lubricant therefrom; and means -for conducting the forced lubricant to the desired surface of the rail head.

2. A track-.rail lubricator comprising a chambered body-member for a lubricant supply, said member, having within it an open charge-pot; a reciprocative. plunger operable by the tread of a passing wheel and adapted to enter and to withdraw from said charge-pot for forcing a charge of lubricant from said pot; and means for conducting laid charge to the desired surface of the rail 3. A track-rail lubricator comprising a chambered body-member for a lubricant supply, said member having within it an open charge-pot; a reciprocative plunger operable by ,the tread of a passingwheel and adapted to'enter and to withdraw from said charge-pot for forcing a charge of lubricant from said pot; a nozzle member positioned to deliver the lubricant to the surface of the gauge side of the rail head supply, said member having Within it a `charge-pot; means for fitting said body member to the track-rail; a reciprocative plunger operable by a passing wheel for forcing a charge of lubricant from said pot;

a nozzle member positioned to deliver the lubricant to the desired surface; ductsV to vconvey the lubricant to said nozzle member;

and a by-pass controlled by said plunger, leading from said ducts back into the charnbered body member for defining said lubricant charge.

5. A track-rail lubricator comprising a chambered body-member for a lubricant supply, said-member having a bolt passing .through the web of the` rail forsecuring said member to the rail; a plunger operable by a passing Wheel for forcing lubricant from said body member; and a nozzle member carried by the securing bolt of said body member positioned to deliver lubricant to the surface of the gauge side'of the rail head, said body member and securing bolt having ducts for leading the lubricant to the .nozzle member.

6. A track-rail lubricator comprising a ohambered body-member for a lubricant supply, said member having a bolt passing through the .Web of the rail for securing said member to the rail; a plunger operable by a passing wheel for forcing lubricant from said body member; a nozzle member carried by said securing bolt positioned to deliver lubricant to thesurface of the gauge side of the rail head; and a bushing to seat said nozzle member, said body member, se-

curing bolt and bushing having ducts for leading the lubricant to the nozzley member.

7. A track-rail lubricator comprising a c'hambered body 'member for a lubricant supply; a reciprocative plunger associated with said body memberfor forcinglubricant therefrom, said plunger having a head exposed to the Contact of the tread of a passing Wheel whereby said plunger is operated; a yieldable guard plate adjacent the plunger head and lying in the path of the Wheel tread to receive the initial wheel contact;

and means for conducting the forced lubri-v cant to the surface of the gauge side of the rail head.

9. A track-rail lubricator comprising a chambered body member for a lubricant supply; means operable by the tread of a passing Wheel to force the lubricant from ,the chambered member; a nozzlemernber to receive and deliver the forced lubricant; and a shield plate associated with said nozzle member in position adjacent the gauge side of the rail head, for directing the discharged lubricant upon the surface of said side.

10. A track rail lubricator comprising a source of lubricant; a nozzle member; a shield plate associated with said nozzle member and with the rail head in position to receive the lubricant from the nozzle member and deliver it upon the surface of the gauge side of the rail head; and means for supplying said nozzle with the lubricant.

In testimony whereof We have signed our names to this specification.

' ALBERT G. HUMPHRIES.

ALLAN F. BONNALIE.

8. A track-rail lubricator comprising a chambered body member for a lubricant supply; means operable by a passing wheel to force the lubricant from the chambered member; a nozzle member to receive and deliver the forced lubricant; and a shield plate associated yvith said nozzle member in position 'for directing the discharged lubricant so the surface' of the gauge side of the rail AAcad. 

